The former president “would ask me to tell you to please ‘put the harps back in the closet,’” she said.

On Friday Mr Bush led the tributes to his former wartime commander General "Stormin" Norman Schwarzkopf, who died on Thursday at the age of 78.

He praised Gen. Schwarzkopf, who led coalition forces during the 1991 Gulf War, as an "American patriot and one of the great military leaders of his generation".

He added: "A distinguished member of that 'Long Gray Line' hailing from West Point, Gen. Norm Schwarzkopf, to me, epitomised the 'duty, service, country' creed that has defended our freedom and seen this great nation through our most trying international crises.”

The former president’s spokesman said on Saturday: "President Bush's condition has improved, so he has been moved today from the intensive care unit to a regular patient room at The Methodist Hospital to continue his recovery."

“The Bushes thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes,” he added.

Mr Bush, the 41st president, is America's oldest living former president by a matter of months. He was born in June 1924 - four months before Jimmy Carter, who became the country's 39th president.